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Undergraduate Education

Minor in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

In today’s technological landscape, where benefits of nanoscale research are being touted by every level of government and industry, graduates with interdisciplinary education and research experience are in demand. For example, Mihail Roco of NSF states in a Nature article that “a key challenge for nanotechnology development is the education and training of a new generation of skilled workers in the multidisciplinary perspectives necessary for rapid progress of the new technology”. VINSE and Vanderbilt have demonstrated their commitment and leadership to this ideal by building and promoting a program that emphasizes interdisciplinary education. Vanderbilt students will be some of the first to fill this scientific/engineering deficit.

DIRECTORS - Paul E. Laibinis & Sandra J. Rosenthal

The minor in nanoscience and nanotechnology is supported by the Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (VINSE) that brings together faculty from the College of Arts and Science, the School of Engineering, and the Medical Center. A specialized laboratory facility maintained by VINSE provides students in the minor with capstone experiences that allow them to prepare and characterize a variety of nanostructured systems using in-house state-of-the-art instrumentation. This hands-on laboratory component enhances the attractiveness of students to both employers and graduate schools.

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Minor

The minor in nanoscience and nanotechnology requires a total of 15 credit hours, distributed as follows

  1. Nano Core (6 hours). NANO 3000 and one of CHEM 2610 or CHBE 4840 or PHYS 2660.
  2. Elective courses. 9 hours selected from the following list of approved subjects:
  • BME 4200       Principles and Applications of BioMicro ElectroMechanical Systems (BioMEMS)
  • BME 4500       Nanobiotechnology
  • ChBE 4830     Molecular Simulation
  • ChBE 4840     Applications of Metal and Metal Oxide Nanostructures
  • ChBE 4850     Semiconductor Materials Processing
  • ChBE 4860     Molecular Aspects of Chemical Engineering
  • ChBE 4870     Polymer Science and Engineering
  • ChBE 4880     Corrosion Science and Engineering
  • CHEM 2610    Introduction to Nanochemistry
  • CHEM 3300    Physical Chemistry: Quantum Mechanics, Spectroscopy, and Kinetics
  • CHEM 3630    Macromolecular Chemistry: Polymers, Dendrimers, and Surface Modification
  • CHEM 5610    Chemistry of Inorganic Materials
  • EECE 4283     Principles and Models of Semiconductor Devices
  • EECE 4284     Integrated Circuit Technology and Fabrication
  • EECE 4385     VLSI Design
  • EECE 4288     Optoelectronics
  • EECE 6306     Solid-State Effects and Devices
  • IMS 5320         Nanoscale Science and Engineering
  • IMS 6310         Atomic Arrangements in Solids
  • ME 8320          Statistical Thermodynamics
  • ME 8323          Introduction to Micro/Nanoelectromechanical Systems
  • ME 8365          Micro/Nanoscale Energy Transport
  • PHYS 2255     Introduction to Quantum Dynamics and Applications
  • PHYS 2660     Experimental Nanoscale Fabrication and Characterization
  • PHYS 3640     Physics of Condensed Matter

Courses taken to satisfy relevant degree requirements for majors in the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering may also be counted toward fulfilling the minor.

If you are interested in the Nano minor, please contact  Professor Paul Laibinis  or the  VINSE administrative office.